The Long Dark Trek

[VeXeR]

Deacon nodded "Alright then spread them out and i'll place him there" He went to the doctor and picked him up while the others spread out some blankets. Carefully Deacon moved to the blankets and let Winley down as gently as possible.

"There we go Doc, hope you'll be okay there" Deacon went back to his table. "Shouldn't Derek be back from his watch soon, he's been gone a long time?" Deac stood up and moved to one of the windows trying to spot Derek out side, but it was getting too dark for that.

He turned to the others "When was he supposed to be back, shouldn't it be right about now?"

 

[RedHairedandFriendly]

Mary watched as Winly was moved off the table and she left the room, headed to the bathroom and removed her prision clothes. Turning on the shower, she let the hot steam build up, before entering the heated waterfall. She smoothed down her dry hair and then slowly began to work the water in to coat it throughly with moisture.

Her mind wandered over the past few hours. Derek, Tara and Deac had saved her from another night of rape and abuse. Then after a hellicious wreck, where most everyone was injured, they had walked hours in the freezing cold and snow. Drifts were thick and trudging through them difficult.

The team had split up, one small group heading for provisions, while others went after supplies. As Mary continues letting the water cover her, she admits that in the beginning she had felt lost and alone. Now as she had worked with the others to save a man's life, she had begun to feel like a team.

Taking the bottle of soap, Mary opened it and brought it to her noise, the scent of peaches reached out to her. A sigh escaped her lips, her memories of her childhood days reached out to her. Thoughts of peach icees and peach pies filled her mind. Mary could almost see her parents holding her hand as they walked through the World's Fair. She wished she could hold onto those memories, letting herself escape to the reality of dreams instead of the reality of war, rape and disaster.

Sighing she turned to face the water, allowing it to flow over her face, neck and further down. The hard pellets of water caressed her skin, while she massaged the peach scented shampoo into her hair. She cleaned and washed the filth, she closed her eyes and worked in the lather, cleaning each strand.

She thought for a moment and quickly rinsed the soap from her hair, then peeked from behind the curtain, making sure the bathroom was still empty. Seeing that it was Mary stepped out of the shower and opened the closet that was in the bathroom. Her eyes scanned the chemicals inside and she smirked when she saw the bleach. Taking it out she mixed a solution of 1/3 bleach and 2/3 water in a cleaning bucket that was on the floor of the bathroom, Mary leaned over the top and poured the solution over her head.

The smell was overwhelming and caused her nose to wrinkle and her eyes and lungs to burn. It had been months since the German Dogs had allowed her to bath, so she knew that lice could easily be in her hair. The solution would kill the bugs, though in two weeks she would need to treat her hair again, but at least for now, she was free of the itching and the filth.

Sweeping her hair back again, she went back into the tub and finished off her shower. The water had started to grow tepid, so she shut the faucets off, knowing that it would be reheated in about 20 minutes so, someone else could shower after that time. Mary grabbed a towel, wrapped it around her thin frame. She had once been a pretty girl, often saught after for good conversation and clean fun. She wasn't gorgeous just cute.

Stepping into the hall, she heard the commontion downstairs, something about the Captain, being outside or not being around. Mary sighed, another member of the team seperated, this wasn't looking very good. She touched the sore scratches on her arm, they were tender but weren't as bad as was first thought.

She walked down the hall and into one of the bedrooms, looking out she saw the Captain walking away in the distance. Perhaps he is checking for more German's. Mary moves about the room, and though the bed calls to her, she refuses its pleading softness. Opening up a closet she pulls out a sweater. Tossing it to the bed, she heads over to the dresser, and finds socks and underwear. She throws those to the bed also, then opens more drawers. In these she pulls out a t-shirt and a pair of thick longjohn's and pants.

As she gets dressed Mary slowly begins to feel like the Freedom Fighter she was. Perhaps that is what they all needed. Just to take a moment and focus on the plan to escape. It was obvious Winly's plan wasn't going to work, because Winly wasn't around. His body was, but not his spirit or his mind, he was laying unconscious and who knows if he would even make it.

She continues to rifle through other rooms in the house and eventually finds boots that are just a bit to big for her tiny feet. Shrugging her shoulders, she doans those as well. Running down the steps, she suddenly quiets her movements as she hears the shallow breathing of Winly. Walking up to him, she looks into his heated flesh.

Touching his brow, she wrinkles her nose. Walking up to the rest of the group, food smelling wonderful to her senses. She touches Deacon's shoulder, whispering to him, "Winly has a fever and he will need Penicillian, the Captain left a while ago, to look for more Germans," Mary assumes this must be the case so she continues. "He'll need that penicillian or he'll die."

She looked into the eyes of everyone and over to Winly, "I'm going to track the Captain, and perhaps I'll get to a town or perhaps I'll find him, I don't know. What I do know is that Winly isn't going to make it if we all just sit around here and do nothing. I'm tired of living near the German's and I want to go home. While I'm away, if I find a town, I'll bring back the meds. or I'll find an allie, they are out there you know, we just have to look for them."

No one said anything to her, so Mary picked up one of the coats and slipped it around her body. She took one more look at Winly, grabbed some of the meat that had been prepared and left the farm house.

The biting wind and snow lashed at her face, but she didn't care. She was finally going to work hard, finally going to take charge of her freedom. As she headed towards the same direction she had seen the Captain, tracing his steps slowly but steadily, she made small comments to herself. Comments about her memories, recalling the happy times and the beautiful city of Paris that she longed to see. It beckoned her with each step she took.

If someone had been watching her, they would see a fresh face, one of determination, strength and an overwhelming urge to see her city and her people free again. No longer would she work to survive day to day, but she would work to live.

 

[shadowoftheheart]

Tara remained silent while Deacon asked when Derek was to be back, and also when Mary left as well.

Remaining, was the injured Winley, the pilot Sarah, and Deacon. Sarah had spirit, but no training for this kind of fight. Deacon was tough, dependable, and she felt that he could be counted upon in any situation. Winley, of course, was no use until he recovred.

Her sniper instincts told her to go to ground, to hide and slink away. Her best chance would be alone, or with one other dependable assistant. But that would be certain death or capture for the others.

"I feel naked without a rifle. Deacon, do you still have that rifle with the scope?"

She would go to the second floor, and watch for Germans. It was all she could do.

 

[VeXeR]

Deacon was in a bad mood ever since he heard that the captain had left to scout the germans. He knew that was not what was going on, truth was that the chances Derek would come back was slim. He had always been like that, as long as deac remembered knowing him.

Deac stood and stared out the window, he didn't agree on Mary's decision but she had been persistant to go and she was right Winley needed the penicilin. Tara's question made him snap back into attention "Hm? Oh, yes yes it's right here"

Deac went to the door were the rifle rested against the wall. He picked it up and handed it to her. "Going upstairs? If you notice anything that could be a sniper just let me know, then i'll put out all these candles. No need for us to act as target practice" he smiled slightly trying to keep her mood up "Or just shoot him, then i won't have to light the candles again"

As she turned to leave a hand on her shoulder carefully stopped her "I never got to say thanks, i'd have you cover me anytime. Good work" he smiled reasurringly at her and let go of her shoulder again. All these problems witnin the group had been a problem ever since they escaped the camp. Deac knew this and also knew that it was now or never, he had to try to make this work, he for one didn't want to go back and he knew they wouldn't either.

 

[RedHairedandFriendly]

Mary trudged through the snow, the Captain's tracks were slowly fading from her sight, yet she didn't let her determination faultier. She knew she wouldn't have many friends back at the house and she knew she wouldn't have any in front of her either, she was pretty much alone, but she desperately wanted to reach the allied forces and become a solder again.

Her past was behind her, the tormenting smacks, the late night yelling and screaming, the cigarette burns in her back. Now the only thing that remained on her were the scars, she refused to let anyone take away her new sense of determination. The others may have seen her as a deserter, leaving the team, but she also had noticed that they were in a stalemate and she was not one to just sit and wait for the German's to come and put a bullet in her head or come and haul her back for more of the vile assaults on her body.

With each step she took she came closer to the woods. Once she was into the thick of its sheltering pine and bare oak branches, the snow was not as hard to travel through, and someone above must have felt sorry for her, because as the night time sky began to rise the snow stopped. Mary sighed with relief and tracked further ahead. She paused about two hours into her hike and leaned against a tree. Pulling the meat from her pocket, she chewed on just one bite, before tucking it back in. She had no clue how far she was from civilization, so she was not taking any more chances with her life, by going on a starvation kick. Her stomach begged for more, but she refused its answered plea.

Pushing her body off the tree, she continued on. The night sounds filled the air as tree branches creaked and groaned in the breezes of the evening. Mary shivered slightly, thankful for the clothing she had found in the old farmhouse. She thought her comrades left behind, she felt bad for leaving them, but what else could she do. They all just couldn't stand there and watch Winly die, so she had left, admitting to herself that she was awfully abrupt about it, but Mary sometimes had a stubborn streak and this was one of those times.

Mary topped the rise that she felt like she had been climbing for hours, she saw the lights of a small town and decided she would circle around it before finding someplace to stay. The night was thick and dark and most of the town was also secluded in silence. Sleeping most likely. Some revelry could be heard from a pub, but Mary only passed by that quickly rather then attempt to look inside. She found a large barn and slipped inside. As she moved through its doors, she was greeted by the smell of hay and animals. “Something nicer then German piss”, she thought to herself. Moving into a corner stall that was for now abandoned, Mary grabbed some hay and sniffed it, refusing to sleep in feces covered particles. She was going to do her best to look presentable in the morning hoping that whoever owned the big house would help her.

She pushed the bundle into a big pile in the corner and settled down to rest. Sleep over took her instantly and dreams began to enter her mind. A young girl with mamma and pappa eating pie and drinking lemonade, as little hands drew chalk people from a new pile of pastels that had been an “I love you” gift from her grandparents. A slow smile washed across the French woman's face and her body snuggled deeper into the hay.

 

[shadowoftheheart]

Tara smiled at Deacon, patting his hand, then resting hers on his.

"Comrade, thank you. I also, would be honored to have you cover me. We will make it to safety, if we work together."

She sighed softly, thinking of Mary and Derek on their own. She had the sense that she would never see either one again. She regretted that neither had parted on good terms with the rest of the group.

No time for that. She let go of Deacon's hand, and went to the second story. Changing positions, scanning with the high-powered scope. Like all German equipment, it was well engineered, clear, and better than the scopes she had used in Poland and Finnland.

She saw some distant Germans, milling around, scouting, but not giving any indication that they were aware that they were here.

They had needed a break, and it looked as though they were getting it. Just in time too, for she saw a squadron of heavy armored cars on the distant road. The crew were poking their heads out of the various portals. They were not acting as though they were driving into combat.

However, these were heavy, 8-wheeled scout cars. Four, acting in a co-ordinated squad. Black uniforms. SS. She took a deep breath, and saw with relief that they continued to drive down the road.

Still, if they came back, it would be mortal danger. They carried heavy machineguns and were armored heavily enough that nothing they had could stop them. They would have to use grenades, and be brave enough to leap atop, open a hatch, and toss a grenade in. Better if they simply didn't come back.

 

[VeXeR]

Deacon cleaned up the mess on the table as good has he could without waking the doctor. He needed rest after all that, deac looked at him and checked that his breathing was as it should. Nothing indicated that anything was wrong.

Deac finished up and looked around, he spotted the 4 MP40's standing by the wall. He picked them up and began checking them, counting the bullets in the mags and how many spare mags the germans had kept with them.
Not much, but enough to aid them in a tight spot, he just hoped they wouldn't need them anytime soon. At least not while Winley was this badly wounded.

Done with checking the weapons deac checked on winley once again, before he slowly made his way upstairs to Tara. "So how many dead so far?" Deacon knew that many snipers counted the number of posible kills even though not releasing any shots. Deacon sighed and found a box which he moved closer to Tara and sat on it. "So what do you think we should do? Winley is probably too wounded to be moved right now, but we can't stay here forever, it's only a matter of time before more germans come here. And what about Mary, do you think she will return with the penicilin?"

 

[shadowoftheheart]

Tara glanced up at Deac as he came upstairs.

"So how many dead so far?"

She smiled thinly.

"None. If I count dead, I count bodies. However, I have seen many Germans that did not appear to know we were here. Also ... a squadron of armored scout cars. We will likely want to avoid the roads."

He sat nearby, clearly something else was on his mind.

"So what do you think we should do? Winley is probably too wounded to be moved right now, but we can't stay here forever, it's only a matter of time before more germans come here. And what about Mary, do you think she will return with the penicilin?"

Tara shook her head.

"No, Mary will not find any. It is rare enough anyway, and if the Germans have any, be certain it will be in Russia, or Italy near their front lines. Or Berlin. However, so long as we live, we can hope.
"We have little choice but to stay. If we left, Winley would die. However we must watch him closely. So soon as he can leave, we must do so."

She puts down her rifle, and sits on the edge of the box.

"How is Sarah?"

She looks at Deac, appraising him closely. How are you, she thought ... but did not say.

 

[VeXeR]

"I think she will be fine, just abit shocked with the whole operation i think. But she is downstairs looking after Winley now." He smiled slightly "I think he is in good hands" Deacon stood up and looked out the window for a few moments before turning to face Tara again.

"How are you holding up? You've done well so far, but don't you need some rest soon? Well i am no sniper but i can shoot well, and i could take your watch for some time if you would like."

They were all tired and exhausted, it had been a rough escape and it didn't seem to get any easier from this point on, on the contrary, and cause of this they would all need to be sharp and alert.

 

[shadowoftheheart]

"Comrade, if I do not rest soon I will collapse."

Honesty was necessary in a situation where people were depending upon one another's lives.

She glances at her uniform sleeve. There was no new blood. No time for modesty, she stripped her top off, and examined the wound in her arm.

The bullet had grazed her, but her arm was stained red from blood. The wound itself had healed, in part because of the bandage-like action of her uniform. Even so, she knew she had lost more blood than was healthy. She was running on adrenaline, and her body simply could not take much more. She had nearly collapsed once already.

Tara realized she was wearing only a bra over her torso, and rather hastily covered herself with her uniform.

"If ... you are well, I will sleep for a time. Wake me in several hours, and I will give you a chance to sleep as well."

 

[RedHairedandFriendly]

Mary awoke late into the night, her body alert, something was moving inside the barn. Unsure if it were friend or foe, Mary huddled in the makeshift bed. She focused on the sounds in the barn and what she could hear outside of it. Noticing movement, she slowly crept along the wall of her stall. Her mind racing. She had thought the barn was safe, but it wasn't after all. As she moved closer to the opening of the stall the sound moved further away. Her mind started to settle as did her pulse.

She peeked over the edge of the stall and saw the figure disappear out the door. Mary wasn't sure why the figure had come into the barn, but she wasn't willing to stick around and find out. She stood up and moved towards the barn door, quietly she slipped through it. She needed to scope out the town, it was almost completely dark. As she walked behind buildings she noticed that the pub was now closed. Mary jimmied the knife and crept inside. She moved around the room in the dark, creeping slowly along the wall. Floor boards creaked as she made her way to the bar. Her eyes now accustomed to the dark, made out the shapes of vodka and whiskey bottles. She grabbed a couple and looked around for something to put them in. Sitting them on the counter she went over to a corner, and using her hands found a box. She emptied out the papers that were inside and took the box back to the counter.

Mary grabbed the alcohol and left the pub as quickly as she could, and as quietly. Then Mary slowly made her way to the front of the buildings. She knew what she was looking for, she just had to be patient and find it. As she walked she noticed some stray cats and dogs, they looked starved and weak. Mary knew how they felt, she too had been hungry and though the meat in her belly had been digested long ago, she refused to take another bite of what she had left, until the morning sun arose. Mary saw the signs of the local food establishment. Walking to the back she again broke in. This time, she added dried meats, crackers, and a few raw vegetables. Looking around she grabbed one of the glass quarts of milk. She left again, this time not as quietly, but still not caught.

Filling more confident, Mary finally found what she had been looking for. She was unable to jimmy the lock of the physicians office, so taking off her jacket she wrapped her fist in the material and shoved her hand into the glass, then she was able to reach in and unlock the door. A dog began barking in the distance and Mary's heart raced faster. She walked into the front room, a desk and a few chairs sat there. Making her way to the back, she found the room she wanted. It was to dark to make out the medicines, so Mary had to chance turning on the lights of the room she was in. Taking a deep breath she pulled the overhead chain and light flooded the room.

Mary's pulse was racing, the light burned her eyes, after a few seconds the white blobs, cleared from her vision, and she was able to focus on the room itself. White cabinets lined one wall and a mirror was on the other. Mary had heard of the miracle medicine Penicillin, it had been shipped in when one of the top General's at the camp had gotten deathly ill. She had hoped the man would die, but since he was a favored soldier his life was not as meaningless as many. She scavenged through the bottles and there it was, rare yes... impossible to get no. She grabbed the lone bottle, she had know that the leader of the Nazi's a man called Hitler had been working to have Penicillin formed, and it was either luck or the will of God that this town had a bottle. The more Mary thought about it she wondered if the town had gotten some because of the famous General that had almost died, perhaps they kept it here for the "just in case" we need it, option.

Now, Mary's only chance of saving Winly was to get the medicine to him. She was sure that she could, it was just a matter of timing. She pushed the syringe and the bottle into her pocket. She pulled various drugs and more needles from the shelf and tossed them into her box of goodies. Stopping suddenly she heard a shout then a large bang, as the door of the physician's office hit the wall. Mary stood there her heart in her throat. She was trapped. Looking around quickly she grabbed one of the syringes from the box and stabbed it into a bottle of bleach. Then she waited.

 

[cute_girl1]

Sarah had been downstairs watching after Winley. He did nothing but sleep. What else would a man that just barely escaped death do? See heard a slow rumble of cars. He ran to the window.

She saw the SS sout cars. Sarah held her breath watching as they passed the barn. Once they were out of sight she let out the air she was holding in. Her breathing was a bit heavy, and it slowly returned to normal.

A small sound behind her, made Sarah jump. She turned around only to see Winley on the ground asleep. She grabed a knife that was lying around and started to search the barn. She found nothing, or atleast no enemies. She returned to where Winley lay sleeping, and sat on the floor next to him, because she was unsure of how much longer she could stand.

 

[VeXeR]

Deacon nodded "That is understandable and we wouldn't have you collapsing". As Tara began to unbutton her shirt deacon turn his back to her, sure they were all in this together but no reason to "intrude" on privacies.

"How is that wound holding up" he asked with his back turned, "you must have lost a good deal of blood." When he heard her pull the shirt back on he turned back to face her. "yes i will be fine, you should get some rest" he smiled slightly "i will be looking´forward to my replacement when you return".

Deacon picked up the rifle and had a look through the scope, it was indeed well made crafted by a master of his craft. Lowering the rifle he found a suitable position and took aim at the road not far away. He then lowered the rifle and looked to Tara as she was about to leave.

 

[shadowoftheheart]

She watched Deacon for a moment, look through the scope of the rifle, and train it on a section of road. She saw with approval the trained and fluid motions of a marksman. Whatever he said about his own abilities (and she remembered that he admitted to being a fine shot -- modesty was worse than pride) she could tell that he was a natrual warrior -- calm, disciplined, dispassionate.
He glanced up to her, and she allowed him a thin but genuine smile. She then hastily turned, went back downstairs to look in to Sarah and Winley.
He was asleep on the floor, and she was sitting by him, barely awake herself.
With a soft sigh, Tara found a quiet corner, out of line-of-sight of windows and doors, and curled into a fetal position. She was asleep within seconds.

 

[VeXeR]

Deacon returned her smile, then once again turned his attention to the road. Letting the scope glide along the road he saw nothing but fresh wite snow falling from the heaven. This was the worst part about sniper duty he thought, all this time on your hands, it makes you think.

Deac didn't want to think about all this, cause he knew it would only bring despair, their chances was indeed slim and for now they couldn't do anything but try to hang in there. There was little food left however only enough for two-three days, and that was with very small rations.

He looked around the room and found a small opening in the wall abit to his right. Perhaps it was big enough for him to snipe through it while laying on the floor. Well it was worth a try and deacon stood up and walked there, he examined the opening and it looked to be big enough. Deac placed himself on the floor and took aim once again, this would do nicely.

Hours went by and there wasn't anything out of the ordinary, germans going by on the road not far away but only normal traffic. Untill deacon suddenly heard a dog barking. He snapped back to attention and let to scope glide over the snowcovered forest. There, a german patrol, five man strong and two dogs. "Damn" he muttered, he wanted to go wake the others but he couldn't leave his post now, they were too close. He couldn't shout either, he was affraid they would hear him.

He would have to be quick if he was to take them down before they got to him, from the first fired shot it would be quick as a flash. Deac steadied his breath and got his pulse down. Taking a deep breath he readied himself for the shot. With empty lungs, between heartbeats...

Just then as deacon squeezed the trigger one dog barked and changed direction, Deacon quickly let go of the trigger and took a deep breath. What was going on? Why did the dog change direction? .... Mary! Deacon didn't know if he should be relieved or pissed. But he decided that for now he would save the shots and the trouble of alerting the nearby germans, it would be a stupid move considring he knew nothing of Mary, perhaps she wasn't even coming back. There were many possiblities but for now deacon followed the patrol with his scope ready for a shot if they turned again.

 

[RedHairedandFriendly]

Mary heard the dogs and she could see the farm house through the trees. Her body was sore from the new bruises on her body. She had struggled with the man that had found her in the physicians office, she knew that someone else had been alerted. Mary was able to inject the bleach filled syringe into the man, but now she struggled to reach the farm house. Her box of belongings were heavy in her arms, when she heard the German dogs, she knew she had to sacrifice her treasure. She dropped it, felt for the medicine in her jacket along with the syringe and shot out through the trees.

Her heart raced faster, she had to reach the farm house. Mary's only hope was that Tara, Deac or Sarah were watching. If they weren't then when she got to the house all would be lose. It was that thought that caused Mary to turn towards the barn, perhaps if the German soldiers found her there, they would waste some time looking for her in there instead of heading straight for the house.

She felt bullets whiz by her and she could hear the barks from the dogs getting closer. Mary ran as fast as she could, refusing to be caught, and refusing to return to the prison. Her only thought was to the barn, she had to get there. It was suddenly there before her, the barn door was open, the only break that would give the woman. Mary heard shots coming from the house, "Thank god," she thought, "someone had seen her." She hurried to the loft of the barn and waited. She had no weapon, but her hands, she hoped she could use them, if she needed to. Looking around she spotted a long rusty pitch fork. She scurried back down the loft ladder and grabbed it, just as a German soldier entered the barn.

Mary spun around and hid behind the side of a stall, hoping that he hadn't seen her. The dogs had whined, so Mary assumed they were either both dead or Winly's dog Spot had dealt with them. Right now, Mary had to concentrate on the soldier that was advancing through the barn. She saw his feet pass by the stall, then his whole body was in view. Quickly rising to her feet, she launched herself towards the soldier and rammed the fork deep into his back. Bone resisted her, and she forced the fork in deeper. Warm German blood spurted back at her as it covered both her and the dying soldier. With each dying beat of his heart more, red matter coated them.

When the blood flowed and no longer jumped at her, Mary dropped her hands from the fork and turned, towards the new sound. There she looked into the eyes of one of her comrades. "J'ai parié vous n'avez pas pensé que je serais de retour vous ai fait." Then wiping her face she translated, "Bet you didn't think I'd be back did you?" She wiped her hands on her pants and headed towards the quiet woman named Sarah.

As the two stepped outside Mary saw the snow covered in red blood, as if the skies had poured out liquid paint. The four remaining soldiers were dead, the two dogs lay dead. Mary looked up into the window of the house and raised her finger to her head, saluting the man that she knew had added her, then she looked down into the lower window and repeated the gesture to the woman Tara.

The night air was once again approaching them, and Sarah and Mary walked into the house together. Mary handed Sarah the medicine and went upstairs to shower. She would talk with the others later, for now she just wanted the stench of German blood off her body.

 

[shadowoftheheart]

Tara was awake the moment she heard shots.

Carefully looking out the front window, she saw a patrol of German soldiers, and a pair of dogs.

She ducked back down, cursing that she didn't have her rifle. She felt powerless, and merely hid, hoping that the Germans would not enter the house.

More shots, dogs whining. Deacon was taking care of the Germans. She only hoped the shots did not attract more attention.

When the shooting stopped, she looked back out the window. She saw Mary, coated in blood. She saluted the window above her (Deacon, she assumed) then her eyes met Tara's, and she repeated the gesture.

She looked into the kitchen, and saw Mary hand Sarah a vial and syringe.

Without further word, Mary went upstairs to clean off. Tara watched her wordlessly, then turned her attention to where Sarah was preparing to give Winley the much-needed injection of medicine.

 

[VeXeR]

As soon as the first shot from the german MP40, the shooter fell to the ground as deacon squeezed the trigger. Quickly he became their center of attention, just as he knew he would. The remaining four germans now ran towards the house and barn where Mary had run to hide.

Another shot from the sniper rifle ripped through the air and another german soldier fell. 2 down 3 go go, Tara and Sarah was awake by now, deacon was sure of that, he could hear them downstairs. Sarah was already on her way towards the barn where a german had followed Mary. Deacon managed to get another one just before the got too close to him. But just as the last german thought he had reached safety against the wall beneath the sniper, a final shot was released, a headshot, the only thing that had been visable in Deacons scope. "Phew that was close" he whispered to him self.

Only a few minutes later Sarah and Mary emerged from the barn, having dealt with the german in there aswell. Deacon stuck his head out the opening and looked down at Tara. "Everything alright?" and when the other two got close enough he asked them the same question. Everyone seemed to be unharmed and as well as they could be, so deacon pulled back in and made his way downstairs.

 

[cute_girl1]

Sarah had heard noise, dogs barking. Not agian. She sighed, and got up to see if she could tell where the dogs where coming from. She looked around for a few minutes and saw a glimpes of a women. There was gun shots, coming from above her and knew that Tara, and Deacon were 'taking care' of the Germans outside.

Sarah didn't see any more soldiers roaming around, so she ventured to the door. She opened it to let Mary in. She witnessed Mary stabing a guy in the back with a fork. How resourceful The man fell dead.

Mary gave Sarah the medicine and the syringe. She placed them on the counter and went to the sink where she washed her hands. She picked up the things she just sat down. She put the medicine in the syringe and went to Winley. She hoped that she would not hurt him and get this right. She found a vain and started to inject him with the medicine. Sarah put the remaining medication on the counter along with the syringe. Not long after she fell asleep.

 

[shadowoftheheart]

Tara nodded up to Deacon.

"We are Okay down here."

When Deacon reached the bottom of the stairs, Tara turned to him, with a big smile.

"I was wrong, and glad of it. Winley has his medicine."

She paused, her smile vanishing. A look of embarassment crossed her face.

"You ... did well. You are fine enough a shot to be a sniper yourself. I ... hid, feeling useless without a rifle. I apologize to you for letting you down."

 

[TheScarletBlade]

"When I raise my flashing sword...and my hand takes hold on judgement,I will take vengeance upon mine enemies.And I will repay those who haze me.O lord,raise me to Thy right hand...and count me amongst Thy saints." A voice said in his dreams,the voice of a man he knew,he could not pin who it was.He took a second and reliezed it was his fathers old voice,it calmed him only for a second as he heard the words replayed in his head again.

"Now,we must all fear evil men.But there is another kind of evil...which we must fear most and that is...The indifference of good men!" Derek could hear in his mind as he opened his eyes to a chapel.He was siting in the front pier of the church and the elderly pastor,in all white robes with golden embroidary.This was Derek's last church service before he shipped out for the war.He was never religious,yet his father was and always wanted his son to be a soldier for god.

Those words...The indifference of good men! he saw images for the five(mybe four if Winley is dead) other soldiers that he escaped with.He had left them to their fate because he was a greater soldier than them and knew he could get away,leaving them with the Germans and without a word.He left them to there fate? how could he do this.

Everything else went black.Finally when he awoke,he found a young French girl standing over his bed looking at him.She was about 17 to 19 years old with raven black hair and a fair complexion.She smiled as he awoke and spoke to him in english,suprisingly enough "Are you alright American? you were making noise in the night,shifting and sweating? are you alright?" she said with a cute french accent.

"That I am,there is just something I need to get done.Is there any French Free Forces members here in this town" Derek said boldly as he looked around the room,expecting Germans to be waiting for him to say something like that.The woman looked in suprise and slightly blushed.

"My name is Ann,short for my real name American.I am a member of the Free French Forces and we were comming to meet you.Since you have something to do we will not bother you captain." Ann said as she started to turn away when she stopped and turned around "We gave you two more clips for your pistol,we got many guns from the Americans before the Germans got around to take us over" She said as she exited into the snow covered French town.

Derek grabbed the two clips,metallic and cold.He slipped them into his drab coat pocket and slipped out of the door.Leaving no trace of his comming,he slipped out through the outskirts and into the forest to the south,heading back down towards the barn.

He was about a stone or two throw away,still deep in the underbrush when he heard the roar of a German SS car.He took a few steps away from the barn and headed back towards the main road as the car screeched to the stop.Four fully armed men stepped out.In full black clothes with special black hats and many marks of honor,a couple with the iron cross already.They spoke to themselves in hushed German the captain could not get clearly.

When I raise my flashing sword... The words went on in the back of his head as he came out of the bush,Gun raised towards the unexpecting SS German troops.And my hand takes hold on judgment Derek heard as he leveled the gun and slipped his finger into place around the trigger.And I will repay those that haze me The words played in his head as a red viel covered his eyes,with rage he fired the trigger three times in rapid sucession,all of his bullets peircing into the back of the SS officer,bringing him down in a pool of his own warm blood,that melts the sow beneath the body,causing steam to rise into the cold wind of the French Countryside.

O lord,raise me to thy right hand...and count me amongst Thy saints" Derek roared as he aimed his gun again firing two shots as he jumped to the side,diving to the front of the car as the other two trained killers,drawing their STG-44's,elite German machine guns roaring,bullets flying into the ground and into the side of the car as they fire on the American.

Ducking and making his way around,he kept the car between him and the Germans though he knew in the current rate,gun fire in a constant stream,he would not have a chance unless a mircle saved him.He needed only a seconds worth of a distraction....

 

[VeXeR]

Just as deacon was about to comfort Tara he heard shots from outside. From up around the road he guessed. He sprinted to the window and looked out, he saw a faint figure firering at the germans. "Derek?!" he whispered to himself.

Deacon realised that much time wasn't left and he turned to Tara with a raised voice "Here take this! provide as much cover as possible!" with that he threw the rifle to Tara and grabbed one of the MP40s by the door and ran towards the road.

As he got halfway there he quickly crouched and fired a burst at the SS soldier that approached Derek, then quick as a flash ran forward again. Now the soldiers had seen him too and they began firering at him aswell. Dodging bullets, running from tree to tree, while crouching and firering Deacon approched Derek.

Just a was almost at Derek a white hot flash of pain shot through deacon. Instantly taking cover behind a tree and turned his back to the tree and felt himself slide down to the ground. Almost as soon as the bullet hit him he moved his free hand to his neck to try and cover the wound. He let his head drop back against the tree and looked up at the sky above, he had no idea how bad it was yet. "Please let it not be the jugular" he whispered and removed his hand which was covered with blood, but not enough to make it a serious or fatal injury. He sighed with relief and tore a piece of fabric off his shirt and began tying it around his neck to stop the bleeding somewhat.

When done he peeked out from behind the tree, Derek was still pinned down. Taking a deep breath Deacon picked up the MP40 and fired a few rounds making the germans duck for cover. This was it, he took the chance and ran as fast as he could towards Derek. Coming in fast, deacon threw himself the last few feet and made it the car Derek was hiding behind.

Looking up at Derek that seemed somewhat surprised. "Captain" he nodded "You looked like you needed a helping hand, sir" he said with a grin despite everything that happend around them.

 

[cute_girl1]

Sarah had not been asleep long before she was woken up. She heard gun shots. She ran to the window. She saw another SS car coming down the street. She watched as Deacon and Derek was taking out the German Patrol car. She could hear shots from upstairs, and knew Tara was helping take out the Germans. Sarah took a brief look behind her for a glimpse of Winley.

 

[RedHairedandFriendly]

Mary freshly showered and dressed, then turned to look out of the upstairs windows, the Captain was running towards the house just as the German patrol car was spotted. She watched in disbelief as Derek tried to reach them, and take out the German's. Running down the stairs, she watched as Deac opened fired, and Sarah watched over Winly.

Not having a weapon for herself, as far as a gun went, she moved into the living room and grabbed herself and Sarah a knife. She would not be taken back and if by some wicked twist of luck they made it through the onslaught of German's then she would have some kind of way to defend herself.

As the shooting continued she waited with the others, thinking that she only wished to get the hell out of here. She thought she had seen Winly move, if he had it was slight, and barely noticeable. She wondered if he was even breathing anymore. Had her trip into town been a waste? No, even if he didn't live they had the medicine, that was highly sought after by many.

Soon the shooting ended and Mary waited with the others to see if the Captain had made it. She hoped he had, and she hope with him, he brought good news of allies. She wishes that she had had more time in the town she had discovered, but she didn't so if any help could have come from them, she wouldn't know about it.

She heard footsteps on the porch, crouched back against the back of the door and waited for whoever was on the porch to come in. Her eyes locked on the doorknob as everyone watched it open slowly. Each one ready to confront the enemy, but hoping it was a comrade instead.

 

[shadowoftheheart]

Tara was glad to have the rifle back in her hands. Once more, the world opened back to her. Her self-pity vanished, replaced by the burning cold desire to kill.

Derek pinned down, Deacon rushing across and thru enemy fire to help him. Their guns were blazing. So.

As always, I never heard my rifle fire. I felt it, the none-too-gentle lover's tap of the rifle's recoil against my shoulder. The German's face disappeared, replaced with a red gooey mess.

The remaining Germas found themselves in a crossfire. No longer certain of themselves, they divided their fire between the position where Derek and Deacon were pinned down, and my perch on the second floor of the house.

No idea how many shots were in the rifle. For the first time ever, I did not know how many bullets I had to use.

These were SS. How many of my sisters ... I leave the thought uncompleted, it is too unpleasant. Distracting ... Another shot ....